Who We Are

Since ESB was established in 1927, it has always endeavoured to bring light and energy to the people it serves, allowing individuals and communities to fulfil their potential in every walk of life.
This is achieved not only through the provision of critical energy infrastructure, but also through ESB's contribution to the economy in the form of investment, taxes, dividends and jobs.

Being Innovative

By investing in new technologies, forging partnerships across the globe and developing new solutions in our Innovation hub we are helping to build a brighter future. Explore our innovation site and join us on our journey to reinvent how we consume and manage our energy.

Acting Responsibly

ESB is a business built on the strength of its people. We are proactively embedding new safety, sustainability, people development and corporate responsibility strategies within our operations. Our objective is to be a positive and effective partner for each of our stakeholders, our staff, our customers, the communities in which we operate and for our environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

One of ecars' roles is to inform and educate people about electric vehicles. Below are a number of frequently asked questions that we receive. If you have any other questions you would like answered, please email us at ecars@esb.ie or post a question on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ESBecars.

General Queries about Electric Vehicles and ecars Charge Point Network

1. Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are vehicles powered by one or several electric engines, supplied by electrical energy stored in batteries that have been charged in the electrical network.

2. Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (E-REVs) are vehicles of similar characteristics to BEVs where traction is only electrical. However, they also include an internal combustion engine functioning as a generator to charge batteries, increasing the vehicle’s autonomy.

3. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) are vehicles that combine an internal combustion engine (ICE) with batteries and an electric engine too. Both engines power the vehicle so it has two external sources of energy: the fuel for the thermical engine and the electrical network for the batteries.

A: To
access the public charge point network as a visitor in Ireland, you need to
email ecars@esb.ie with proof of purchase (e.g. vehicle registration document)
and a utility bill (not older than three months). An RFID card, which enables
use of the network in Ireland, can then be sent to your home address (the
address that appears on the utility bill provided) prior to your arrival to
Ireland. Please allow a reasonable period of time to apply for this RFID card
prior to departure from your home country

A: There are three charging options: home charging, public charging or fast charging. The first 2,000 purchasers of a newly registered electric car who qualify for the SEAI Grant will get a free home charge point so that your electric car can be charged from your domestic electricity supply.

There are currently 1,200 public charge points available nationwide in locations such as on-street, shopping centres, car parks etc.

Every town with 1,500 inhabitants or more gets a charge point installed in that area. Fast charge points located along main inter-urban routes at service stations and roadside cafés to cater for those on longer journeys. You can view the installed and planned charge points nationwide on the electric car charge point map here.

A: A full charge
will cost as little as €2.00 by ​charging overnight at home using discounted
night rate electricity. Please contact your supply company to find out more
about night rate electricity tariffs.

A: There
a number of useful charge point user instruction videos available on our
website and YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/ESBecars Additionally, a link to these videos are
available on the charge point icons on our ecar connect mobile app

A: The range differs for each electric car. The Mitsubishi i-MiEV has a range of 150km, the Nissan LEAF has a range of 199km but the Tesla Model S has a range of 420km. View details of all electric cars here.

A: The rating marked on charge points is the maximum continuous rate of charge available to an electric vehicle from the charger.

The vehicles Battery Management System (BMS) continuously controls the rate during a charging session and dictates the rate of charge. The rate depends on a number of factors outside of the control of the charger.

The most common factors effecting the charging rate are:

Make & Model of EV

Some models of EVs are not capable of availing of the full kW available from a charge point but can still obtain a charge suitable to its own maximum charging rate.

2. State of Charge (SOC) of battery

The rate of charging allowed by the EVs BMS reduces as the battery comes closer to fully charged in order to reduce stress on the battery pack. This reduction for most EV models starts around 50% and charge rate reduces dramatically after 80%. Fast charging is most effective up to 80% SOC.

3. Temperature of Battery

If the battery is too cold or too hot the EVs BMS will adjust the rate of charge to protect the cells of the battery. Some EVs will activate internal heaters or fans to maintain a temperature between 20 to 25 C. The main factors effecting battery temperature is the amount of driving and charging done up to the charging session.

A: Because of their relative newness, electric cars have a higher purchase price than conventional cars. However, several factors reduce the overall costs. These include a zero rate of VRT relief of up to €5,000, purchase grant for up to €5000, lower road tax of €120, reduced maintenance costs (due to fewer moving parts), plus dramatically lower fuel costs. For certain car models, the driver purchases the car and leases the battery.

A: Electric cars are capable of conventional car speed, acceleration and power. Electric supercars such as the Tesla can reach 0 – 60 km in 3.7 seconds and top speeds of 200km/h. Electric cars such as the Nissan LEAF reach 0 – 60 km in 10 seconds and can drive up to 140 km/h. View the choice of electric cars or choice of electric fleet vehicles available here.

A: Electric cars offer a real opportunity to reduce the carbon output of the transport sector, as they emit zero exhaust pipe emissions. Most people will charge their cars at night when a higher proportion of electricity is generated from wind. The growth in the generation of electricity from renewable sources offers a route towards carbon free motoring. Read more about the environmental impact of electric cars here.

A: As more of Ireland’s electricity is generated from renewable energy, the level of emissions associated with electric motoring will approach zero. With the current mix of fuels used to generate electricity in Ireland, emissions will be on average less than half of those of a conventional internal combustion engine (70gCO2/km for an electric car versus 150gCO2/km for a conventional car).

A: The move to e-mobility naturally includes commercial fleets. Current emissions of CO2 in the Irish transport sector accounts for approximately 13 million tonnes annually, with commercial vehicles contributing to that.

Some of the benefits include accelerated capital allowance scheme, government incentives, zero VRT relief, and significantly lower running costs. More information on all benefits to business can be found here.

A: Most experts say that the lifetime of a battery is between six and 10 years. Once the battery comes to the end of their lifespan, they can be recycled. There is also the potential for the batteries to be reused for a number of different functions.

Some manufacturers such as Nissan and Mitsubishi are offering a battery guarantee on their cars of five years or 100,000kms, whichever comes first. Tesla offers guarantee of eight years and 200,000kms or unlimited km depending on battery option.

ESB’s free home charge
point scheme will close on December 22nd
2017 with the installation of 2,300 home chargers.
The Government has announced a new
grant of €600 towards the installation of a home charger unit from January
1st 2018. The
grant will be administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority
of Ireland (SEAI). Details of the new grant scheme can be found at: https://www.seai.ie/grants/electric-vehicle-grants/electric-vehicle-home-charger-grant/